Keeping in tune with the changing times, I share news clippings and express my views and observations on various social issues. It’s a good platform for discussions and garnering public opinion on issues.

 When my longing to become a scientist couldn’t find a way forward, at the age of 27 the industrialist in me took shape with a borrowed capital of Rs.1 lakh.

Humanitarian

Kidney donation

I watched a close relative (my daughter-in-law Priya's mother) battle with kidney disease and observing the agony of the patient, the immediate family and the difficulty in finding a donor. I began making enquiries if I could donate mine. After consulting my doctor friends and finding myself healthy, I saw no harm in it.

I feel very strongly about ‘leaving the world with dignity’. When death is imminent and obvious in case of terminal illness or failure of your body systems, I feel it is a forced cruelty to prolong life through artificial methods like ventilators, painful surgeries; bringing along with it financial and emotional burden to your near and dear. Hence I have approached the judiciary for legal sanction for a natural death.

I have always believed in the dictum: ‘what makes me seem better than the other is in fact my being more fortunate than the other’. Aware of the less fortunate people around me, I began a non-profit charitable organization with the intention to provide assistance to the destitute and needy. Humble efforts are on to reach out to deserving people for medical treatment, educational help, rehabilitation of the elderly and infrastructural development.

Having a life experience of over six decades and with more than three decades of experience as an industrialist, I have compiled my learnings, observations and thoughts in a series of books.

Socially Conscious

On head load issue

I was annoyed by a run in with trade unions at one of our factories and decided to take the issue head on. With law and legislation on the side of the citizen, I saw no reason to be denied my rights. I felt strongly that as long as we don’t stand up for our rights we will be exploited and made victims of politics and policies. I studied up on the prevalent laws, the right I am entitled to and decided not to align with such atrocities. I urge all respectful citizens of this noble country to take a stand and together we can fight this menace.

The growing menace of stray dogs is a problem not only in Kerala, but all across India. And I for one can’t shut my eyes and be silent to the plight of common people. When I saw that the local authorities are not doing what they have been obliged by law to curb this menace, I approached the Court for intervention. It is unfortunate that some people in society are making a fashion out of ‘stray dog love’, while being insensitive to people’s struggles.

As V-Guard grew bigger, I was acutely aware of the need for a corporate office housing all our staff. While assessing our requirements with the architects and my in house team we understood the project would be a few stories high and require air conditioning, water treatment, high power consumption and more. The footprint we would leave on the environment both immediate and in the long run would be tremendous. A sense of responsibility toward our fellow beings and our future generations rose within me. I called on the architects to use every possible method of minimising any damaging impact on the earth.We now have the finest cross ventilation, solar power, water treatment and more.

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K Chittilappilly Foundation, a non–profit making charitable organization was founded by Kochouseph in the year 2012 with the intention to provide help to the destitute and needy public. Through the Thomas Chittilappilly Trust and K Chittilappilly Foundation, around Rs.15 Crore have been distributed to thousands of ordinary people for medical treatment, educational purpose, infrastructural development; and through various charitable organizations that run old age homes, orphanages, home for the destitute, free and subsidized dialysis units, etc. Another major activity undertaken by the KCF is to spread the philanthropic message of organ donation.

V-Star is another venture from the V Guard stable, manufacturing inner wear for ladies and gents. With manufacturing facilities in Kerala and outside, Valero for men and Vanessa for women have quickly captured the market with its high quality and innovative design sensibilities.

Having set the company on wheels I toyed with the idea of diversification and a completely new course- a water theme park. I had travelled extensively to Europe and America and assessed the potential. The thought of replicating it in Cochin where the terrain was ideal and water was plentiful was exciting. Delivering on the quality of the rides, meeting international safety standards were all a daunting task but I decided to take it on with a firm belief that with perseverance, optimism and a positive attitude all things were possible.
A few years down the line and as a natural progression to Veegaland, I embarked on a larger and more refined water theme park in Bangalore – Wonderlawww.wonderla.com

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V-Guard Industries

In 1977, I borrowed Rs 1,00,000/- from my father and set up a small manufacturing facility for stabilisers. I had two workers to assist me. Those days the market was flooded with low quality stabilizers from north India with the exception of brands like Voltas and Keltron. Sensing the need for a reliable and quality product with a good after sales backup, I set about manufacturing the V-Guard stabiliser. Quality and reliability being my focus and armed with an effective marketing strategy, I was able to capture the market quickly. V-Guard soon became a household name. The company grew slowly and steadily and now enjoys a pan Indian presence.